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News Release 17-035
Scientists discover fossil of dinosaur ancestor with surprising croc-like appearance
Finding reshapes scientists’ ideas about how early dinosaurs looked
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The creature named Teleocrater rhadinus is a carnivorous animal living more than 245 million years ago during the Triassic Period, before dinosaurs. Recently unearthed in southern Tanzania, the creature was approximately seven to 10 feet long, with a long neck and tail. The NSF-funded international team of scientists led by Virginia Tech was surprised to find that rather than walking on two legs, this creature walked on four legs like a crocodile!
Credit: NSF/Virginia Tech
![A reconstruction of <em>T. rhadinus</em> feasting on a relative of early mammals.](/news/mmg/media/images/Teleocrater final Witton 2017_f.jpg)
A reconstruction of T. rhadinus feasting on a relative of early mammals.
Credit: Natural History Museum, London, artwork by Mark Witton
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![The new species <em>T. rhadinus</em> hunting an early close relative of mammals.](/news/mmg/media/images/Teleocrater rhadinus_f.jpg)
The new species T. rhadinus hunting an early close relative of mammals.
Credit: Gabriel Lio
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![An artist's rendering of <em>T. rhadinus</em> in its ancient habitat.](/news/mmg/media/images/rhadinus1_f.jpg)
An artist's rendering of T. rhadinus in its ancient habitat.
Credit: Gabriel Lio
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![Reconstruction of the skeleton of <em>T. rhadinus.</em>](/news/mmg/media/images/rhadinus2_f.jpg)
Reconstruction of the skeleton of T. rhadinus.
Credit: Scott Hartman
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![Scientists excavate the remains of <em>T. rhadinus</em> and other animals in southern Tanzania.](/news/mmg/media/images/IMG_3517_f.jpg)
Scientists excavate the remains of T. rhadinus and other animals in southern Tanzania.
Credit: Roger Smith
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![Paleobiologist Sterling Nesbitt labeling plaster jackets containing the bones of <em>T. rhadinus.</em>](/news/mmg/media/images/IMG_3560_f.jpg)
Paleobiologist Sterling Nesbitt labeling plaster jackets containing the bones of T. rhadinus.
Credit: Roger Smith
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